Council 'frustrated" by police budget increase

Cambridge Times

With the majority of a proposed 5.14-per-cent regional tax increase taken up by the Waterloo Regional Police Service budget, regional councillors are showing irritation at the relationship between the two organizations.

“I don’t like the process. I am very frustrated about the level of increase and where the budget stands and where it has stood and where it likely will stand,” said Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr at a regional council meeting on Wednesday.

“I?think there is a harsh reckoning coming at some time.”

Police are asking for a tax hike of 2.6 per cent as they look to increase their total budget by $12.5 million, or about 10 per cent.

The proposal was presented earlier this month to the police services board, who directed Chief Matt Torigian and his staff to come back with options that would cut the tax hike to one, 1.5, two or 2.5 per cent.

That will happen Dec. 5, with the police board selecting its preferred option. Regional councillors will have to accept or reject that plan only hours later – a situation which rankles some councillors.

“In everything else we do . . . we take a week so everyone can think about it, ask questions, see what constituents have to say, get feedback,” said Kitchener Coun. Geoff Lorentz.

Frustration with the police budget is nothing new. Over the past 10 years, the budget has risen by an average of 6.5 per cent per year, compared to 4.4 per cent per year for other regional programs.

“It always seems like a rushed process when we’re dealing with these budgets,”?said North Dumfries Mayor Rob Deutschmann.

The proposed 2013 budget includes the hiring of eight constables to provide security at the new consolidated courthouse, at a cost of more than $500,000, and 19 civilian staff.

The 2012 police budget raised property taxes by 1.3 per cent, after both the police services board and regional councillors dismissed an initial proposal with a 1.65-per-cent tax hit.